Mr Talbot, 63, was not at home when the house was raided, and police have stressed that no arrests have been made.

The allegations are said to "historic" and relate to Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, where Mr Talbot worked before moving into television.

He will now be questioned by police when he returns from his trip sailing across the Atlantic Ocean.

A Greater Manchester Police statement said: “On 11 December 2012, police executed a number of warrants as part of an ongoing investigation into historic sexual abuse.

“The alleged offences relate to sexual abuse in the early 1970s, while the victims were pupils at Altrincham Grammar School for Boys.

“The offences currently under investigation did not occur within school grounds but allegedly involved a member of staff at that time.

“No arrests have been made at this time.”

Chief Superintendent Mark Roberts, said: "Following the publicity into the ongoing investigation in St Ambrose RC College, we received other reports of sexual abuse that is alleged to have occurred while the victims were pupils at the grammar school.

"While I must stress that once again these relate to historic allegations it is incumbent on us to thoroughly and robustly investigate this matter."